Cartridge and e-vaping device with serpentine heater

Abstract

A cartridge of an e-vaping device includes a housing extending in a longitudinal direction, a reservoir in the housing, a heater in the housing, and an absorbent material at least partially surrounding the sinusoidal shaped member. The reservoir is configured to store a pre-vapor formulation. The heater has a sinusoidal shaped member translating about an elliptical shape to define a channel there through. The absorbent material is in fluid communication with the reservoir.

We claim: 
     
       1. A cartridge of an e-vaping device, the cartridge comprising:
 a housing extending in a longitudinal direction; 
 a reservoir in the housing, the reservoir configured to store a pre-vapor formulation; 
 a first connector piece defining a first channel; 
 a post extending through the first channel; 
 a heater in the housing, a portion of the heater in contact with the post; 
 an absorbent material in contact with the heater, the absorbent material in fluid communication with the reservoir; and 
 a sheath at least partially surrounding the absorbent material. 
 
     
     
       2. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath includes an end wall and the post defines a second channel, the end wall including an outlet therethrough, the outlet in fluid communication with the second channel. 
     
     
       3. The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the heater includes a first heater electrical lead and a second heater electrical lead, the first heater electrical lead including the portion of the heater in contact with the post, and the second heater electrical lead contacting the sheath. 
     
     
       4. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the heater includes a sinusoidal shaped member. 
     
     
       5. The cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a wrapper at least partially circumscribing the housing, the wrapper including a cutout defined therein, the cutout overlying at least a portion of the reservoir. 
 
     
     
       6. A cartridge of an e-vaping device, the cartridge comprising:
 an outer housing extending in a longitudinal direction; 
 a first connector piece defining a first channel, the first channel extending in the longitudinal direction; 
 a post extending through the first channel; 
 a heater, a portion of the heater in contact with the post; 
 an absorbent material in contact with the heater; and 
 a sheath at least partially surrounding the absorbent material. 
 
     
     
       7. The cartridge of  claim 6 , wherein the heater comprises:
 a sinusoidal shaped member. 
 
     
     
       8. The cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the sinusoidal shaped member includes a first set of lobes opposing a second set of lobes. 
     
     
       9. The cartridge of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a second channel extending along an outer surface of the first connector piece, the second channel sized to carry pre-vapor formulation. 
 
     
     
       10. The cartridge of  claim 6 , wherein the first connector piece further comprises:
 a nose portion at a first end of the first connector piece, and 
 a base portion at a second end of the first connector piece, the nose portion extending substantially longitudinally from the base portion. 
 
     
     
       11. The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the base portion has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the nose portion. 
     
     
       12. The cartridge of  claim 10 , and wherein the first connector piece is substantially T-shaped in cross-section. 
     
     
       13. The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the base portion comprises:
 a flange extending generally transverse to the longitudinal direction, the flange defining at least one slot therein. 
 
     
     
       14. The cartridge of  claim 13 , wherein an electrical lead extends through the at least one slot. 
     
     
       15. The cartridge of  claim 6 , wherein the sheath includes an end wall and the post defines a second channel, the end wall including an outlet therethrough, the outlet in fluid communication with the second channel. 
     
     
       16. The cartridge of  claim 6 , wherein the heater includes a first heater electrical lead and a second heater electrical lead, the first heater electrical lead including the portion of the heater in contact with the post, and the second heater electrical lead contacting the sheath. 
     
     
       17. The cartridge of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 an inner tube defining an inner tube air passage there through, the inner tube air passage in fluid communication with the outlet in the sheath. 
 
     
     
       18. The cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein the outer housing abuts a base portion of the first connector piece, and the outer housing substantially or completely surrounds the sheath and the inner tube. 
     
     
       19. The cartridge of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a gasket between the inner tube and the outer housing, a reservoir established between the inner tube, the outer housing, the gasket, and first connector piece. 
 
     
     
       20. The cartridge of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a mouth-end insert including at least one outlet, and wherein the post defines a second channel, and the at least one outlet is in fluid communication with the second channel. 
 
     
     
       21. The cartridge of  claim 6 , wherein the heater has a generally serpentine shape translated about a generally tubular shape. 
     
     
       22. The cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mouth-end insert including at least one outlet, and wherein the post defines a second channel, and the at least one outlet is in fluid communication with the second channel. 
 
     
     
       23. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the heater has a generally serpentine shape translated about a generally tubular shape. 
     
     
       24. The cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the sinusoidal shaped member is curled and forms a generally tubular shape. 
     
     
       25. The cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the sinusoidal shaped member is curled and forms a generally elliptical shape. 
     
     
       26. The cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the sinusoidal shaped member is curled and forms a generally circular shape. 
     
     
       27. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material at least partially surrounds the heater. 
     
     
       28. The cartridge of  claim 6 , wherein the absorbent material at least partially surrounds the heater.